Circular knitting machine

ABSTRACT

A circular knitting and stocking making machine for the manufacture of perforated stockings with transfer stitch patterns having a dial plate eccentric with respect to the needle cylinder and defining therewith an enlarged loop transfer zone. On this plate there is provided a plurality of punches slidable in a radial direction and devices for the advancement and withdrawal of said punches so as to permit the taking up of the loop from determined needles and its discharge on to others substantially adjacent. The needles slidable along the cylinder are provided below their point with means adapted to retain the loop and shaped in such a manner as to facilitate the taking up by said punches. The needle cylinder is provided with cams for raising this means on the needles substantially to the level of the punches.

United States Patent 1191 Rumi et al.

[ Oct. 1, 1974 CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE [76] Inventors: Guerrino Rumi;Angiolino Rumi,

both of via Carini 42, Botticino Sera, Italy 25082 [22] Filed: Mar. 20,1972 [21] Appl. No.: 236,068

Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 29. 1971 Italy 22471/71 [52] US.Cl. 66/95 [51] Int. Cl D04b 15/02 [58] Field of Search 66/95, 97, 24, 26

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,060,020 11/1936 Boaler66/95 2,188,125 1 1940 Wigley...... 66/95 2,677,257 5/1954 Jarvis....66/95 3,225,569 12/1965 Luchi 66/95 3,470,715 10/1969 Parthum 66/953,508,420 4/1970 Parthum et al.. 66/95 3,609,998 10/1971 Mutze et a166/95 3,636,730 1/1972 Fecker 66/95 Primary Examiner-James Kee ChiAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Dr. Guido Modiano; Dr. Albert Josif 5 7ABSTRACT A circular knitting and stocking making machine for themanufacture of perforated stockings with transfer stitch patterns havinga dial plate eccentric with respect to the needle cylinder and definingtherewith an enlarged loop transfer zone. On this plate there isprovided a plurality of punches slidable in a radial direction anddevices for the advancement and withdrawal of said punches so as topermit the taking up of the loop from determined needles and itsdischarge on to others substantially adjacent. The needles slidablealong the cylinder are provided below their point with means adapted toretain the loop and shaped in such a manner as to facilitate the takingup by said punches. The needle cylinder is provided with cams forraising this means on the needles substantially to the level of thepunches.

5 Claims, 21 Drawing Figures CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates to a circular knitting andstocking machine for the manufacture of perforated stockings withtransfer stitch pattern.

At present this type of stocking is-obtained by means of straightmachines, which require considerable time for the manufacture of thetubular fabric. This fact leads to a limited production capacity for themachine, and consequently a considerable effect on the overall cost ofthe manufactured product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The main object of the present invention is toprovide a circular knitting machine which, in addition to its normaloperations, permits the manufacture of perforated stockings withtransfer stitch pattern, which up to the present time have only beenobtainable from straight bar or flat bed machines.

A further object of the present invention is that a common circularknitting machine may be used adapted by particular modifications forthis type of manufacture so as to guarantee reliability of operation andeasy setting up,

A further object is to provide a machine which has a high rate ofproduction with respect to those at present in use, so allowingmanufacturing cost to be considerably reduced.

A further object of the invention is to be able to execute 21 wide rangeof transfer stitch pattern on stockings for women, men and children,with yarn of different types and thicknesses.

These and other objects are attained by the circular knitting andstocking making machine, comprising a dial plate internal to, and aplanetary gear external to a needle cylinder, said plate and saidplanetary gear being eccentric on opposite sides with respect to saidcylinder, on said plate there being provided a plurality of internalpunches slidable in a substantially radial direction, on said planetarygear there being provided a plurality of external punches slidable in aradial direction, and devices for the advancement and withdrawal of saidinternal and external punches so as to permit the taking up of the loopfrom determined needles and its discharge on to others substantiallyadjacent, said needles slidable on said cylinder being providedappreciably below their point with means adapted to retain the loop andshaped in such a manner as to facilitate said taking up by said internaland external punches, said needle cylinder being provided with cam meansfor raising said means on said needles substantially to the level ofsaid punches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Further characteristics and advantagesof the invention will be more evident from the detailed descriptiongiven hereinafter of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of acircular knitting machine according to the invention, illustrated by wayof example in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially full and partially sectional view of theconstituent members and driving means of the machine according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a'diagrammatic representation of the working positions of theneedles and punches of the plate and planetary gear respectively;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the dial plate according to the v which drivethe external punches;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are lateral views of a plate punch and a planetary gearpunch respectively;

FIG. 9 is a lateral view of a sinker of the machine according to theinvention; 7

FIG. 10 shows the stitch discharge hook in the working position;

FIGS. 11a, 11b, 11c, 12a, 12b, 120, 13a, 13b, 13c, are

I lateral, plan and sectional views on the line AA of a transfer needleof left discharge, right discharge and double discharge respectively;

FIG. 14 is an enlargement which shows indicatively the mode of operationof the external punch with respect to a needle;

FIG. 15 shows one of the possible transfer stitch patterns obtainable bythe circular machine on stockings for men, women and children.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to said figures,the circular knitting machine according to the invention comprises aneedle cylinder 1, either as a single piece or composed of two portions1a and 1b, on the external surface of which there are grooves 2 whichextend over the whole of the height of the cylinder 1, and in which theneedles 3, the neutral elements 4 and the selectors or jacks 5 areslidable.

Said needles 3 are provided with a projection or shoulder 3a placedappreciably under thehook 3b and corresponding tongue 3c, and adapted toretain the loop. Suitable undercuts 3d are provided immediately belowsaid projection to facilitate the coupling of the internal punches 6 andexternal punches 7. With the needles 3 a plurality of resilient rings 3eare engaged. inserted into a suitable groove and normally provided formaintaining the needles adhering to the cylinder shell. The selectors 5are provided with teeth 8 which engage with a plurality of control meansincluding slides 9 mounted horizontally slidable on a support 10 andarranged for driving by a drum 11 for the develop ment of the pattern.

The cylinder 1 comprises an internal cylindrical crown l2 and anexternal cylindrical crown 13, in a conventional arrangement, on whichthe sinkers 15 are slidably mounted in appropriate radial grooves 14.

With reference to FIG. 9, said sinkers 15 are provided with an upperbeak 15a, the purpose of whichis to enlarge the loop carried by theneedle so as to result in a successful transfer stitch. They alsocomprise a tooth 15b in a known arrangement, which driven by anappropriate cam moves said sinkers forwards and backwards radially.

The dial plate 16 is mounted above the needle cylinder 1 andeccentrically with respect to it to define respect to the axis oftheneedle cylinder 1 in the direction opposite to the transfer zone. sothat the transfer zone includes an enlarged interspace extending forsubstantially a half of the circunference of the needle cylinder and thedial. The dial 16 is provided with a sleeve 16a by which it is locked onthe shaft 17, and that side of it facing downwards is shaped so as notto interfere with the radial motion of said sinkers. The upper face ofthe plate is provided on its outside 16b with a plurality of grooves 160for housing the punches 6, which are disposed not in the traditionallyradial direction but inclined suitably in the direction contrary to thedirection of rotation so as to constitute the envelope of thecircumference 160' which has a radius substantially corresponding to theextent of eccentricity of said dial with respect to the needle cylinder(FIGS. 2 and 3). Advantageosly said design gives greater reliability ofoperation in that it causes an inclination of the punches 6 which isparticularly favourable to their insertion into the undercuts 3d in theneedles 3 during the taking up of the loops. 1

In the same plane as the plate 16 and eccentric with respect to thecylinder 1, there is a planetary gear or annular member 18 of oppositeeccentricity with respect to that of said plate. The punches 7 withprojections 70 slide radially on it and engage in'a corresponding track19 provided on the cover 20, and provided with a cam 21 which drivessaid punches 7 forwards and backwards radially. During manufacture, thestocking 22 is suitably pulled downwards so as to generate a certaintension on its loops 23, by suction or mechanical traction means.

On the cover 20 (FIG. 1) is also fixed a device 24 of conical pointedform, adjustable from the outside, the function of which is tofacilitate the unhooking of the loop from external or internal punches,and to eliminate any residual fibres which could remain hooked to them.

Said cover is also provided with fins (not visible in the figure) whichallow it to be fixed to the frame of the machine.

In FIG. 1, the cylinder 1, the plate 16 and the planetary gear 18 rotateat the same rotational speed and in the same direction. They are rotatedby a single driving unit which drives each of these members separatelythrough different paths.

'Thus whereas the needle cylinder is made to rotate in a conventionalmanner by gear members provided at its lower end, the planetary gear isdriven by the main shaft 25 through the gears 26 and 27, this lattermeshing with the teeth formed on the periphery of its lower face, andthe plate supported by the shaft 17 is rotated in its turn by the gears29, 30, 31 and 32, this latter keyed on the shaft 33, which isadvantageously provided with a rapid clutch 34, so as to allow the cover20 to be quickly removed.

' FIG. I also shows cams 35 and 36 which cause the punches 6 of theplate to advance and return by acting on their projection 60.

The circular knitting machine according to the invention operates in thefollowing manner.

Having suitably set the pattern drum 11, the needles 3 can be raised. Asa slide 9 driven by the drum 11 approaches, a certain number ofselectors 5 are raised by way of the teeth 8, with consequent raising ofthe corresponding neutral elements 4 and the needles 3. (All or a partof the needles may be made to rise.)

The needles 3 on being raised pass from a normal working position to aposition for effecting the transfer stitch, which is appreciably abovethe usual position.

Assuming that this manufacturing process on flat bed machines is knownand that the said stitch is obtained by transferrring the loop from oneneedle to the other. it is emphasised that with the circular machineaccording to the invention, the passage of the loop (and not only of theyarn) from one needle to the adjacent one is carried out in such amanner as to effect said transfer stitch.

It should also be noted that with said machine two or more loops can betransferred simultaneously with two or more consecutive needles. Withreference to FIG. 2, the succession of operations necessary for creatingthe transfer stitch takes place over about opposite the feeding zone E,and is as follows.

The initial stage, which takes place slightly before the zone markedwith a. consists of raising the required needles so that the loop isdisposed and rests hooked on the projection or shoulder 30 or on someother notch provided on them.

When the needle has arrived in said position appreciably above the usualposition, the sinker 15 advances and its hook 15a enters the loop.causing it to enlarge. Immediately afterwards one of the two plungersrelative to said needle, either the internal or external onerespectively, is made to advance. It enters the loop at the level of theundercut 3d provided on said needle and hooks it so that when the needleis successively returned to the normal position. the punch transportsit.

Before arriving at the zone indicated by b, that needle which precedesor follows that considered initially, according to whether the internalor external punch was used, is raised and thus enters the loop (zone 1))so a]- lowing the punch to abandon it. As the needle returnssuccessively to its normal working position, the transfer stitch isformed.

In conclusion, if four successive needles are indicated at A. B, C and D(FIG. 2) and the loops are to be taken from the needles Band C by theinternal and external punches respectively, when said four needlesarrive in the zone b, said loops will be located on needles A and Drespectively because of the eccentricity of the plate and planetary gearwith respect to the cylinder.

On utilising the internal punches 6 relative to the plate 16, the stitchis transferred in the forward direction from the needle B to the needleA, because the eccentricity of the plate with respect to the cylindercauses a lateral movement component so that in rotating from zone a tozone 2) the needles 3 become staggered with respect to the punches 6 byapproximately one step. Vice versa when the external punches 7 relativeto the planetary gear 18 are used, the stitch is moved in the backwarddirection from the needle C to the needle D because of the oppositeeccentricity of the planetary gear 18 with respect to the cylinder 1,which in rotating the cylinder 1 from zone a to zone b caused theneedles 3 to become staggered with respect to the punches 7 by about onestep in the opposite direction to the preceding stagger between theneedles 3 and needles 3 which are formed by cross grooves inclined tothe lateral surfaces of said needles, substantially as shown in FIGS. 11to 14.

In this manner it is possible to transfer the loop or a number of loopsrespectively from one or more needles to the preceding or successiveneedles, an operation which allows the punched perforated stitch usuallymade only with flat bed machines to be obtained.

Advantageously the machine according to the invention permits rhomboidalcross Jacquard patterns or others to be obtained.

FIG. 15 shows diagrammatically for demonstration purposes one of thepossible patterns which can be made with said machine. It comprises afirst section 37 obtained by known processes, and constituting the edgeof the stocking, then a complete turn 38 of transfer stitches in thecourse of which all the needles concerned work alternately with theexternal and internal punches in transferring the loop, and then thetubular portion 39 of the stocking with an inverted V motif of transferstitches, the branches 40 and 41 of which are obtained by makingdifferent needles operate in successive turns, said needles operatingalways with the external punches or internal punches according towhether the branch 40 or 41 is considered. Vertical lines are alsoincluded, each comprising two series of holes 42 and 43 obtainedrespectively by the external and internal punches.

The invention so conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications, allof which fall within the scope of the invention idea.

We claim:

1. A circular knitting machine for the manufacturing of fabrics such asstockings having transfer stitch pat tern, comprising a rotatablygrooved needle cylinder, a plurality of needles each having a loopretaining shoulder and slidable within the grooves of said needlecylinder, a rotatable dial arranged above said needle cylinder andhaving a plurality of substantially radial grooves, said dial definingwith said needle cylinder a loop transfer zone and being arrangedeccentrically with respect to said needle cylinder, transfer elementsslidable within the grooves of said dial for cooperation with theneedles of said needle cylinder to transfer a loop from a needle toanother needle in said loop transfer zone, and control means foroperating said needles and said transfer elements, wherein, according tothe improvement, said dial is eccentrically offset with respect to theaxis of said needle cylinder in the direction opposite to said transferzone, whereby said transfer zone includes an enlarged interspaceextending for substantially a half of the circumference of the needlecylinder and the dial, and wherein the machine further comprises drivingmeans for rotating said dial and said needle cylinder at substantiallythe same rotational speed during the loop transfer operation, saidcontrol means comprising cam means for operating said transfer elementssubstantially radially to said dial after reaching said enlargedinterspace to take up a loop of fabric from a needle and to dischargesaid loop of fabric on another needle because of a lateral movementcomponent caused by the eccentricity of said dial relative to saidneedle cylinder, and cam means for raising the needles to a level atwhich-said loop retaining shoulder is arranged substantially at thelevel of said transfer elements.

2. A circular knitting machine for the manufacturing of fabrics such asstockings having transfer stitch pattern, comprising a rotatable groovedneedle cylinder, a plurality of needles each having a loop retainingshoulder and slidable within the grooves of said needle cylinder, arotatable dial arranged above said needle cylinder and control means foroperating said needles. the machine further comprising a grooved annularmember having a diameter substantially greater than that of said needlecylinder and arranged substantially on the'same plane than said dialeccentrically with respect to said needle cylinder, said annular memberhaving transfer elements slidable within the grooves thereof and eachhaving hooked ends at the inside of said annular member, said circularknitting machine further comprising cam means for actuating saidtransfer elements of said annular member and driving means for rotatingsaid annular member synchronously with said dial and said needlecylinder.

3. A circular knitting machine for the manufacturing of fabrics such asstockings having transfer stitch pattern, comprising a rotatable groovedneedle cylinder, a plurality of needles each having a loop retainingshoulder and slidable within the grooves of said needle cylinder, arotatable dial arranged above said needle cylinder and having aplurality of substantially radial grooves, said dial defining with saidneedle cylinder a loop transfer zone and being arranged eccentricallyoffset with respect to the axis of said needle cylinder in the directionopposite to said transfer zone, whereby said transfer zone includes anenlarged interspace extending for substantially a half of thecircumference of the needle cylinder and the dial, transfer elementsslidable within the grooves of said dial for cooperation with theneedles of said needle cylinder to transfer a loop from a needle toanother needle in said loop transfer zone, driving means for rotatingsaid dial and said needle cylinder at substantially the same rotationalspeed during the loop transfer operation, and control means foroperating said needles and said transfer elements, said control meanscomprising cam means for operating said transfer elements substantiallyradially to said dial after reaching said enlarged interspace to take upa loop of fabric from a needle and to discharge said loop of fabric onanother needle because of the lateral movement component caused by theeccentricity of said dial relative to said needle cylinder, and cammeans for raising the needles to a level at which said loop retainingshoulder is arranged substantially at the level of said transferelements, the machine further comprising a grooved annular member havinga diameter substantially greater than that of said needle cylinder andarranged substantially on the same plane than said dial eccentrically tosaid needle cylinder, the axis of said dial and said annular memberbeing arranged at opposite sides of the axis of said needle cylinder,the said annular member having transfer elements slidable within thegrooves thereof and each having hooked 4. A circular knitting machine asclaimed in claim 3, wherein said grooves of said dial are slightlyinclined with respect to the radial direction of said dial in adigrooves being each tangent to a circumference having the centercorresponding to the center of said dial and a radius substantiallycorresponding to the extent of eccentricity of said dial with respect tosaid needle cylinsaid loop transfer zone. der. 3

5. A circular knitting machine as claimed in claim 3, further comprisingan adjustable device for removing the yarn and any residuous from saidtransfer elements, said device including a pointed element projectinginto

1. A circular knitting machine for the manufacturing of fabrics such asstockings having transfer stitch pattern, comprising a rotatably groovedneedle cylinder, a plurality of needles each having a loop retainingshoulder and slidable within the grooves of said needle cylinder, arotatable dial arranged above said needle cylinder and having aplurality of substantially radial grooves, said dial defining with saidneedle cylinder a loop transfer zone and being arranged eccentricallywith respect to said needle cylinder, transfer elements slidable withinthe grooves of said dial for cooperation with the needles of said needlecylinder to transfer a loop from a needle to another needle in said looptransfer zone, and control means for operating said needles and saidtransfer elements, wherein, according to the improvement, said dial iseccentrically offset with respect to the axis of said needle cylinder inthe direction opposite to said transfer zone, whereby said transfer zoneincludes an enlarged interspace extending for substantially a half ofthe circumference of the needle cylinder and the dial, and wherein themachine further comprises driving means for rotating said dial and saidneedle cylinder at substantially the same rotational speed during theloop transfer operation, said control means comprising cam means foroperating said transfer elements substantially radially to said dialafter reaching said enlarged interspace to take up a loop of fabric froma needle and to discharge said loop of fabric on another needle becauseof a lateral movement component caused by the eccentricity of said dialrelative to said needle cylinder, and cam means for raising the needlesto a level at which said loop retaining shoulder is arrangedsubstantially at the level of said transfer elements.
 2. A circularknitting machine for the manufacturing of fabrics such as stockingshaving transfer stitch pattern, comprising a rotatable grooved needlecylinder, a plurality of needles each having a loop retaining shoulderand slidable within the grooves of said needle cylinder, a rotatabledial arranged above said needle cylinder and control means for operatingsaid needles, the machine further comprising a grooved annular memberhaving a diameter substantially greater than that of said needlecylinder and arranged substantially on the same plane than said dialeccentrically with respect to said needle cylinder, said annular memberhaving transfer elements slidable within the grooves thereof and eachhaving hooked ends at the inside of said annular member, said circularknitting machine further comprising cam means for actuating saidtransfer elements of said annular member and driving means for rotatingsaid annular member synchronously with said dial and said needlecylinder.
 3. A circular knitting machine for the manufacturing offabrics such as stockings having transfer stitch pattern, comprising arotatable grooved needle cylinder, a plurality of needles each having aloop retaining shoulder and slidable within the grooves of said needlecylinder, a rotatable dial arranged above said needle cylinder andhaving a plurality of substantially radial grooves, said dial definingwith said needle cylinder a loop transfer zone and being arrangedeccentrically offset with respect to the axis of said needle cylinder inthe direction opposite to said transfer zone, whereby said transfer zoneincludes an enlarged interspace extending for substantially a half ofthe circumference of the needle cylinder and the dial, transfer elementsslidable within the grooves of said dial for cooperation with theneedles of said needle cylinder to transfer a loop from a needle toanother needle in said loop transfer zone, driving means for rotatingsaid dial and said needle cylinder at substAntially the same rotationalspeed during the loop transfer operation, and control means foroperating said needles and said transfer elements, said control meanscomprising cam means for operating said transfer elements substantiallyradially to said dial after reaching said enlarged interspace to take upa loop of fabric from a needle and to discharge said loop of fabric onanother needle because of the lateral movement component caused by theeccentricity of said dial relative to said needle cylinder, and cammeans for raising the needles to a level at which said loop retainingshoulder is arranged substantially at the level of said transferelements, the machine further comprising a grooved annular member havinga diameter substantially greater than that of said needle cylinder andarranged substantially on the same plane than said dial eccentrically tosaid needle cylinder, the axis of said dial and said annular memberbeing arranged at opposite sides of the axis of said needle cylinder,the said annular member having transfer elements slidable within thegrooves thereof and each having hooked ends at the inside of saidannular member, said circular knitting machine further comprising cammeans for actuating said transfer elements of said annular member anddriving means for rotating said annular member synchronously with saiddial and said needle cylinder.
 4. A circular knitting machine as claimedin claim 3, wherein said grooves of said dial are slightly inclined withrespect to the radial direction of said dial in a direction oppositethat of rotation of said dial, said grooves being each tangent to acircumference having the center corresponding to the center of said dialand a radius substantially corresponding to the extent of eccentricityof said dial with respect to said needle cylinder.
 5. A circularknitting machine as claimed in claim 3, further comprising an adjustabledevice for removing the yarn and any residuous from said transferelements, said device including a pointed element projecting into saidloop transfer zone.